Toner container, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus that include a toner container contacting surface to contact with a developing device engagement releasing structure

ABSTRACT

A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The developing device includes an inlet to be poured with a toner, an inlet shutter to move between a closed position, at which the inlet is closed, and an open position, at which the inlet is open, a biasing mechanism to bias the inlet shutter toward the closed position, an engaged structure provided in the inlet shutter, an engaging structure to engage with the engaged structure and to retain the inlet shutter at the open position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and an engagement releasing structure provided in the inlet shutter and to release an engaging state between the engaged structure and the engaging structure. The toner container includes a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing structure and to make the engagement releasing structure release the engaging state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/971,631, filed May 4, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/490,034 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,025,227),filed Apr. 18, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/893,826 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,690,231), filed on Nov. 24,2015, which is a U.S. National Stage Application of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2014/065021, filed on May 30, 2014, and whichclaims the benefit of foreign priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2013-114144, filed on May 30, 2013, Japanese Patent Application No.2013-141524, filed on Jul. 5, 2013, and Japanese Patent Application No.2013-162345, filed on Aug. 5, 2013. The entire contents of each of theabove applications are hereby incorporated by reference in entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to a toner container, a processcartridge to which the toner container can be detachably attached, andan image forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, itis a widely adopted method in which a toner container, which contains atoner for developing purposes, is configured to be detachably attachableto a developing device. In this method, when the toner container isattached to the developing device, a discharge port (an outlet) in thetoner container gets connected to a supply port in the developingdevice, thereby enabling a supply of the toner from the toner containerto the developing device. Typically, in such a type of the tonercontainer, the discharge port is configured to be closable. With that,when the toner container is removed from the body of the developingdevice, the toner does not leak through the discharge port to theoutside.

For example, in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent No. 4084835), atoner cartridge (a toner container) is disclosed in which the dischargeport is configured to be openable or closable by an operation of arotating knob. Moreover, in this toner cartridge, by operating therotating knob, it also becomes possible to fix the toner cartridge in amounting portion.

However, regarding the toner cartridge disclosed in Patent Literature 1,in a state in which the toner cartridge is not mounted in the mountingportion; if a operator casually rotates the rotating knob, then there isa chance that the discharge port becomes open and the toner leaks outthrough the discharge port.

Thus, it becomes necessary to take measures in order to prevent suchtoner leakage. However, if a new component is to be added for thatpurpose, then there is a possibility that, from the perspective of thelayout of components disposed in the main body of the developing deviceand in the toner container, positioning the additional component whileavoiding interference with other surrounding components is a difficulttask.

Particularly, as a result of the downsizing of devices that has occurredin recent years, in a configuration in which the components are disposedin a highly dense manner, it is difficult to secure space for disposingcomponents. Hence, it is all the more difficult to add a new component.

In view of such issues, it is an object of an aspect of the presentinvention to provide a toner container in which shutter opening isprevented from occurring in a non-mounted state and which includes anoperating member and a shutter that can operate in cooperation via alinking member; as well to provide a process cartridge and an imageforming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problem described above, the present invention isa toner container including: a container body to contain a toner andthat is detachably attachable to a mounting portion in a developingdevice; an outlet to discharge the toner contained in the containerbody; a shutter to open and close the outlet; and an operating member tomove the shutter, wherein in the mounting portion of the developingdevice, a linking member is disposed that is capable of performing areciprocating linear movement, the shutter includes a first engagingportion to engage with the linking member, the operating member includesa second engaging portion to engage with the linking member, in a statein which the container body is not mounted in the mounting portion, theshutter and the operating member are in a non-linked state with eachother, and in a state in which the container body is mounted in themounting portion, the shutter and the operating member become able to belinked to each other via the linking member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, in a state in which acontainer body is not mounted in a mounting portion, a shutter and anoperating member are in a non-linked state with each other. Hence, evenif an operator operates the operating member, the shutter does not open.As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the toner from leakingthrough an outlet. Moreover, since a linking member is configured to beable to perform a reciprocating linear movement, it can be configured ina compact manner thereby enabling downsizing. Besides, the operatingmember and the shutter can be made to operate in cooperation via thelinking member which is compact in nature. Hence, it becomes possible toachieve downsizing of the image forming apparatus, as well as to providea toner container that can be attached to the downsized image formingapparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment ofan image forming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of attaching and removing aprocess unit;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the state in which a toner cartridge isattached to the process unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the state in which the toner cartridgeis removed from the process unit;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a view from the near side of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration on theright-hand side of the process unit and the toner cartridge in the statein which the toner cartridge is attached to the process unit, (a) inFIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an unlocked state, and (b) in FIG. 6 isdiagram illustrating a locked state;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a view from inside of a configurationon the right-hand side of the process unit and the toner cartridge inthe state in which the toner cartridge is attached to the process unit,(a) in FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the unlocked state, (b) in FIG.7 is a diagram illustrating a state during locking, and (c) in FIG. 7 isdiagram illustrating the locked state;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state during locking when viewedfrom the front side of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the left-hand sideof the toner cartridge;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge in a state in whicha waste toner inlet is opened;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge in a state in whichthe waste toner inlet is closed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the relevant part of the process unitin a state in which a waste toner outlet is closed;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the relevant part of the process unitin a state in which the waste toner outlet is opened;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge illustrating aposition of disposing a replenishment toner outlet shutter;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the process unit illustrating aposition of disposing a linking member;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge, (a) in FIG. 16is a diagram illustrating a state in which the replenishment toneroutlet is closed, and (b) in FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a statein which the replenishment toner outlet is open;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the toner cartridge and the process unit in astate in which the replenishment toner outlet is closed;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the toner cartridge and the process unit in astate in which the replenishment toner outlet is open;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a coupled state of anoperating member, the shutter, and the linking member when the tonercartridge is attached to a developing device of the process unit;

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating a coupled state of the operatingmember, the shutter, and the linking member when the toner cartridge isattached to the developing device of the process unit;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a process cartridge,which includes the toner cartridge and the process unit in an integratedmanner, is lifted;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a shutteropening/closing mechanism disposed to the right of the developingdevice, (a) in FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a state in which ashutter main body is positioned at a closing position, and (b) in FIG.22 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the shutter main body ispositioned at an opening position;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a locking mechanism of a replenishmenttoner entry shutter;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the right-hand sideof the developing device and the toner cartridge;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a pressing surface ofthe toner cartridge is abutted against a pressed portion of the shuttermain body;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a lock releasing mechanism of thereplenishment toner entry shutter;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an opening operation of thereplenishment toner entry shutter;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a closing operation of thereplenishment toner entry shutter;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating the right-hand side of theprocess cartridge;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the contour of supporting portions;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the operating member;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a second engaging portion;

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a preliminarily-held state, (a) inFIG. 33 illustrates a side view of a first engaging portion, and (b) inFIG. 33 is a side view of the second engaging portion;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a locked state, (a) in FIG. 34illustrates a side view of the first engaging portion, and (b) in FIG.34 is a side view of the second engaging portion;

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a state of poor attachment, (a) inFIG. 35 illustrates a side view of the first engaging portion, and (b)in FIG. 35 is a side view of the second engaging portion;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between theengaging portions and the supporting portions in a state of normalattachment, (a) in FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of thepreliminarily-held state, and (b) in FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional viewof the locked state after an operation of the operating member;

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between theengaging portions and the supporting portions in a state of poorattachment, (a) in FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of thepreliminarily-held state, and (b) in FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional viewof the locked state after an operation of the operating member;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of theoperating member;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the secondengaging portion;

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating the locked state according to thesecond embodiment, (a) in FIG. 40 is a side view of the first engagingportion, and (b) in FIG. 40 is a side view of the second engagingportion;

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating the preliminarily-held state accordingto the second embodiment, (a) in FIG. 41 is a side view of the firstengaging portion, and (b) in FIG. 41 is a side view of the secondengaging portion;

FIG. 42 is an overall configuration diagram of an indirect-transfer-typecolor image forming apparatus; and

FIG. 43 is an overall configuration diagram of a direct-transfer-typecolor image forming apparatus.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge with a gripper.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Given below is the explanation of the present invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings. Herein, in the drawings used in explainingthe present invention, regarding the constituent elements such asmembers or constituent components having the same function or the sameshape, same reference numerals are used to a maximum extent ofdistinction and the explanation is not repeated after given once.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment ofan image forming apparatus. Firstly, explained below with reference toFIG. 1 is an overall configuration and operations of the image formingapparatus.

The image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is a monochromaticimage forming apparatus. In an apparatus main body (animage-forming-apparatus main body) 100, a process unit 1 functioning asan imaging unit is mounted in a detachable manner. The process unit 1includes a photosensitive member 2 that functions as an image carrierfor carrying an image on the surface thereof; a charging roller 3 thatfunctions as a charging unit for charging the surface of thephotosensitive member 2; a developing device 4 that functions as adeveloping unit for converting a latent image formed on thephotosensitive member 2 into a visible image; and a cleaning blade 5that functions as a cleaning unit for cleaning the outer surface of thephotosensitive member 2. Moreover, at a position opposite to thephotosensitive member 2, an LED head array 6 (LED stands for lightemitting diodes) is disposed that functions as an exposing unit forexposing the outer surface of the photosensitive member 2 to light.

Furthermore, a toner cartridge 7 that serves as a toner container isdetachably attached to the upper surface (a mounting portion) of thedeveloping device 4 of the process unit 1. The toner cartridge 7 has acontainer body 22 that includes a toner containing unit 8 for housing atoner, which is a toner to be supplied to the developing device 4.Moreover, in the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 7 alsoincludes, in an integrated manner, a toner collecting unit 9 thatcollects the toner removed by the cleaning blade 5 (i.e., collects wastetoner).

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus also includes a transfer device10 that transfers an image onto a paper sheet serving as a recordingmedium; a paper feeding device 11 that feeds paper sheets; a fixingdevice 12 that fixes an image, which has been transferred onto a papersheet, to the paper sheet; and a paper discharging device 13 thatdischarges a paper sheet to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

The transfer device 10 includes a transfer roller 14 functioning as atransfer member. In the state in which the process unit 1 is mounted inthe apparatus main body 100, the transfer roller 14 abuts against thephotosensitive member 2. As a result, a transfer nip is formed at theabutting portion between the transfer roller 14 and the photosensitivemember 2. Besides, the transfer roller 14 is connected to a power source(not illustrated) and is applied with a predetermined direct-current(DC) voltage or a predetermined alternating-current (AC) voltage.

The paper feeding device 11 includes a paper feeding cassette 15 inwhich paper sheets P are housed, and a paper feeding roller 16 thatfeeds the paper sheets P housed in the paper feeding cassette 15. On thedownstream side in the paper conveying direction of the paper feedingroller 16, a pair of registration rollers 17 is disposed that serves asa pair of timing rollers for clocking the conveying timing andaccordingly conveying a paper sheet to a secondary transfer nip.Meanwhile, examples of the paper sheet P include a cardboard sheet, apostcard, an envelope, a plain paper sheet, a thin paper sheet, a coatedpaper sheet (such as a coat paper sheet or an art paper sheet), or atracing paper sheet. Moreover, as far as the recording media other thanpaper sheets are concerned, it is possible to use OHP sheets or OHPfilms (OHP stands for overhead projector).

The fixing device 12 includes a fixing roller 18 functioning as a fixingmember, and a pressure roller 19 functioning as a pressure member. Thefixing roller 18 is heated by a heat source such as a heater (notillustrated). The pressure roller 19 is pressurized toward the fixingroller 18 and abuts against the fixing roller 18. As a result, a fixingnip is formed at the abutting location.

The paper discharging device 13 includes a pair of paper dischargingrollers 20. A paper sheet that is discharged to the outside of the imageforming apparatus by the paper discharging rollers 20 is stacked on acatch tray 21 that is formed by making a depression on the upper surfaceof the apparatus main body 100.

Next, explained below with reference to FIG. 1 is an imaging operationperformed in the image forming apparatus according to the presentembodiment.

Once the imaging operation is started, the photosensitive member 2 isrotary-driven, and the surface of the photosensitive member 2 isuniformly charged to a predetermined polarity. Then, based on imageinformation received from a reading device (not illustrated) or acomputer (not illustrated), the charged surface of the photosensitivemember 2 is exposed to light from the LED head array 6. As a result, anelectrostatic latent image is formed on the charged surface of thephotosensitive member 2. Then, the developing device 4 supplies a tonerto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 2.As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed as a tonerimage (i.e., converted into a visible image).

Meanwhile, once the imaging operation is started, the paper feedingroller 16 starts rotary-driving so that a paper sheet P is fed from thepaper feeding cassette 15. However, at the registration rollers 17, thepaper sheet P is temporarily stopped from being conveyed further. Then,at a predetermined timing, the registration rollers 17 startrotary-driving and convey the paper sheet P to the transfer nip insynchronization with the timing at which a toner image formed on thephotosensitive member 2 reaches the transfer nip.

At that time, to the transfer roller 14, a transfer voltage is appliedthat has the opposite polarity to the polarity of toner charging for thetoner image formed on the photosensitive member 2. As a result, atransfer electrical field is formed at the transfer location. Because ofthe transfer electrical field, the toner image formed on thephotosensitive member 2 is transferred onto the paper sheet P. Then, theresidual toner that is not transferred onto the paper sheet P and thatremains on the photosensitive member 2 is removed by the cleaning blade5 and is collected by the toner collecting unit 9 in the toner cartridge7.

The paper sheet P onto which a toner image has been transferred is thenconveyed to the fixing device 12, and passes through the fixing nipformed between the fixing roller 18 and the pressure roller 19. As aresult, the paper sheet P gets heated and pressurized, and the tonerimage gets fixed to the paper sheet P. Then, the paper sheet P isdischarged by the paper discharging rollers 20 to the outside of theimage forming apparatus and is stacked in the catch tray 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of attaching and removing theprocess unit.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a cover 101attached to the front portion of the apparatus main body 100 is openableand closable in nature. When the cover 101 is kept open, the LED headarray 6 becomes able to retract upward via a link mechanism (notillustrated). With such a configuration, when the cover 101 is keptopen, the process unit 1 can be removed from the front side of the imageforming apparatus (i.e., from the side facing the direction of travel ofa discharged paper sheet P; or from the right-hand side with referenceto FIG. 2) while avoiding interference with the LED head array 6. Atthat time, in the state in which the toner cartridge 7 is attached tothe process unit 1, the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 can beremoved as an integrated process cartridge from the front side of theapparatus main body 100. Moreover, regardless of whether the processunit 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 or is removed from theapparatus main body 100, the toner cartridge 7 can be attached to orremoved from the process unit 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the toner cartridge isattached to the process unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state inwhich the toner cartridge is removed from the process unit.

With reference to FIG. 3, the direction indicated by an arrow Alrepresents the direction of attachment at the time of attaching theprocess unit 1 and the toner cartridge 7 to the apparatus main body 100.Moreover, the direction indicated by an arrow A2 represents thedirection of removal at the time of removing the process unit 1 and thetoner cartridge 7 from the apparatus main body 100.

In the following explanation, in the toner cartridge 7 and the processunit 1, the front side of the direction of attachment Al (or the frontside of a direction of attachment B1) is referred to as the far side,and the rear side opposite to the front side is referred to as the nearside. Moreover, the right-hand side and the left-hand side are definedwhile facing the front side of the direction of attachment Al (or thedirection of attachment B1).

On the near side in the direction of attachment of the toner cartridge7, a gripper 25 is disposed that can be gripped by an operator whileattaching the toner cartridge 7 to or removing the toner cartridge 7from the apparatus main body 100 or the process unit 1. The gripper 25is attached in a pivotable manner with respect to a shaft 35 (see FIG.4) that is a columnar rod disposed parallel to the longitudinaldirection of container body 22. At the time of removing the tonercartridge 7 and the process unit 1 from the apparatus main body 100 orat the time of removing the toner cartridge 7 from the process unit 1;as illustrated in FIG. 4, the gripper 25 is pivoted toward the near sideso that it becomes possible to grip the gripper 25. On the other hand,after the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 are attached to theapparatus main body 100; as illustrated in FIG. 7, the gripper 25 ispivoted toward the far side so that it becomes possible to keep thegripper 25 in a housed state. Moreover, the center of pivoting of thegripper 25 (i.e., the shaft 35) is set to be located lower than agravity point G of the gripper 25 (see (a) and (b) in FIG. 16). Hence,in the attached state of the process unit 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2,even if the operator forgets to rotate the gripper 25 toward the farside, the cover 101 can be pivoted from below until it touches thegripper 25 and then the gripper 25 can be pivoted together to keep it inthe housed state.

It is noted that the abovementioned gripper may be not pivotable to butmay be fixed to the cover 101 as long as the gripper has such a sizethat the cover 101 can be closed without the gripper interfering withthe cover. FIG. 44 illustrates a gripper 250 in another embodiment. Thegripper 250 is arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction ofthe container body and above the shaft 35. Also in this structure, theoperator can carry the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 as anintegrated process cartridge in a way of holding similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 21.

Explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 16 is more detailedexplanation about the configuration of the toner cartridge 7 and theprocess unit 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, on a right-hand side 22 a of the containerbody 22, a operating member 26 that is pivotable is disposed. Theoperating member 26 is fixed to the right-hand end of the shaft 35, androtates along with the shaft 35. In order to make the shaft 35 rotatablewith respect to the container body 22, the shaft 35 is pivotablysupported with bearings 27 a and 27 b (see FIG. 5) at both ends of thecontainer body 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operating member 26 includes, in anintegrated manner, a lever 57 and a first engaging portion 58 thatrotates along with the shaft 35. The lever 57 includes a fixing portion26 a to which the shaft 35 is fixed; an extending portion 26 b thatextends from the fixing portion 26 a in a direction perpendicular to theaxis direction of the shaft 35; and a plate portion 26 c that, whenviewed from the axis direction of the shaft 35, bends from the extendingportion 26 b and extends further. In other words, the plate portion 26 cextends at an angle with respect to the radial direction from the centerof the shaft 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first engaging portion 58 includes, in anintegrated manner and at one end of the shaft 35, a baseplate portion 58a, which is disk-shaped and extends in a direction perpendicular to theaxis direction of the shaft 35, and an erected portion 58 b, which iserected from the baseplate portion 58 a in the axis direction of theshaft 35. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the erected portion 58 b extends inthe circumferential direction of the baseplate portion 58 a and has adouble-walled structure with both ends thereof in the circumferentialdirection being closed. The erected portion 58 b has an outer wall 581on the radially outside and has an inner wall 582 on the radiallyinside. The portion in between the two ends in the circumferentialdirection of the erected portion 58 b is open toward a directionperpendicular to the axis direction, and the inner periphery of theinner wall 582 forms a first engaging surface 58 c that has an U-shapededge when viewed from the axis direction. The operating member 26 isattached to one end of the shaft 35 with the tops of the erected portion58 b of the first engaging portion 58 pointing outward. At the time ofattaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1, a supportingportion 54 (see FIG. 29), which is a boss and arranged on a right-handside 1 a of the process unit 1, engages with the first engaging surface58 c. Herein, as long as the first engaging portion 58 is able to pivotin conjunction with the lever 57, it can have an arbitraryconfiguration. Thus, aside from the configuration explained above inwhich the lever 57 and the first engaging portion 58 are formed in anintegrated manner, it is also possible to treat the lever 57 and thefirst engaging portion 58 as separate members and to attach them to theshaft 35 separately.

Thus, the toner cartridge 7 can be fixed to the process unit 1 bypivoting the operating member 26. More particularly, as illustrated in(a) FIG. 6, on the right-hand top of the plate portion 26 c of theoperating member 26, a locking portion 26 c 1 is formed as a protrusionthat can engage with an engaging portion 1 c that is formed as amounting-portion-side engaging portion on the right-hand side 1 a of theprocess unit 1. The side 1 a is the inner wall surface opposite to theright-hand side of the toner cartridge 7.

In other words, the engaging portion 1 c is formed on the abovementionedinner wall surface and serves as a guiding groove in which theprotrusion of the locking portion 26 c 1 can enter. The engaging portion1 c includes an open portion 1 c 1 from where the groove starts and goesinto the right-hand side 1 a from the near vertical side of theright-hand side 1 a; includes a curved portion 1 c 2 in which the groovebends midway; and an open portion 1 c 3 from which the groove escapes tothe upper horizontal side of the right-hand side 1 a. Moreover, of thetwo side surfaces of the groove of the engaging portion 1 c when viewedfrom the axis direction of the shaft 35, the side surface that isfarther from the axis center and that ranges from the open portion 1 c 1to the curved portion 1 c 2 serves as a sliding surface 1 c 4 on whichthe locking portion 26 c 1 moves in a sliding manner. Moreover, anengaging surface 1 c 5 is present that is connected to the slidingsurface 1 c 4, that extends in the vertical direction from the curvedportion 1 c 2 to the open portion 1 c 3, and with which the lockingportion 26 c 1 engages.

Given below is the explanation of a sequence of operations of theoperating member 26 in the state in which the toner cartridge 7 isattached to the process unit 1.

Firstly, as illustrated in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 7(a), in the state inwhich the toner cartridge 7 is attached to but not yet locked with theprocess unit 1, the operator either holds the top and the bottom of theplate portion 26 c of the operating member 26 with fingers or pressesthe plate portion 26 c from below to apply a pressing force to theoperating member 26 and pivots the operating member 26 to press ittoward the far side. As a result, the locking portion 26 c 1 reaches theopen portion 1 c 1 at the near vertical side of the engaging portion 1c. Moreover, if a pressing force is applied to the plate portion 26 c ofthe operating member 26 to pivot it toward the far side; then, asillustrated in FIG. 7(b), the locking portion 26 c 1 moves whilecontacting with (sliding on) the sliding surface 1 c 4. Because of thecontacting between the locking portion 26 c 1 and the sliding surface 1c 4, a braking force J gets applied in the opposite direction to apressing force X applied to the operating member 26 (i.e., the brakingforce J gets applied against the pressing force X). Herein, the plateportion 26 c is formed with a single plate of resin such as polystyrenethat is elastically deformable to an extent. Hence, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the plate portion 26 c gets pressed in a deformed manner towardthe far side from the locking portion 26 c 1 as the pivot point. Then,as illustrated in FIG. 7(c), once the locking portion 26 c 1 reaches thecurved portion 1 c 2, there is an end to the sliding state of thelocking portion 26 c 1 with respect to the sliding surface 1 c 4, andthe locking portion 26 c 1 abuts against the engaging surface 1 c 5. Inthis way, the state in which the locking portion 26 c 1 remains abuttedagainst the engaging surface 1 c 5 is the locked state.

Moreover, in the locked state, the plate portion 26 c is released fromthe elastically deformed state and returns to the original shape.Furthermore, the plate portion 26 c takes such an orientation that thelocking portion 26 c 1 is positioned to abut against the engagingsurface 1 c 5. With that, even if an unexpected force gets appliedthereby causing the plate portion 26 c of the operating member 26 topivot toward the near side, the plate portion 26 c does not undergodeformation unless a substantially large force is applied. Hence, thelocking portion 26 c 1 also does not go over the engaging surface 1 c 5.

On the other hand, if the operator presses the plate portion 26 c fromabove using fingers and pivots the operating member 26 toward the nearside, then the plate portion 26 c undergoes elastic deformation from thelocking portion 26 c 1 as the pivot point and in the opposite directionto the case in which it is pressed to the far side as described above.Then, the engagement between the locking portion 26 c 1 and the engagingportion 1 c is released, and the state is switched to a lock-releasedstate.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4, on the right-hand side 22 a of thecontainer body 22, a positioning projection 29 in the form of acylindrical protrusion is disposed for the purpose of determining theposition of the toner cartridge 7 with respect to the process unit 1. Inan identical manner, on a left-hand side 22 b of the container body 22as illustrated in FIG. 10, a positioning projection 31 in the form of aprotrusion having a half-moon shaped cross-sectional surface is disposedfor the purpose of determining the position of the toner cartridge 7with respect to the process unit 1. Correspondingly, on the right-handside 1 a and the left-hand side 1 b of the process unit 1, groove-likeguiding portions 30 and 32 are respectively formed (see FIG. 4) in sucha way that the curved surfaces of the positioning projections 29 and 31abut against the guiding portions 30 and 32.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, on the left-hand side 22 b of the containerbody 22, a second engaging portion 34 is attached in a pivotable manner.In an identical manner to the first engaging portion 58, the secondengaging portion 34 includes, in an integrated manner, a baseplateportion 34 a, which is disk-shaped and extends in a directionperpendicular to the axis direction of the shaft 35, and an erectedportion 34 b, which is erected from the baseplate portion 34 a in theaxis direction of the shaft 35. The baseplate portion 34 a is attachedto the other end of the shaft 35. The erected portion 34 b extends inthe circumferential direction of the baseplate portion 34 a and has adouble-walled structure with both ends thereof in the circumferentialdirection being closed. Hence, the erected portion 34 b includes anouter wall 341 on the radially outside and an inner wall 342 on theradially inside. The portion in between the two ends in thecircumferential direction of the erected portion 34 b is open toward adirection perpendicular to the axis direction, and the inner peripheryof the inner wall 342 forms a second engaging surface 34 c that has anU-shaped edge when viewed from the axis direction. At the time ofattaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1, a supportingportion 33 (see FIG. 4), which is a boss and formed on the left-handside 1 b of the process unit 1, engages with the second engaging surface34 c.

In the present embodiment, the second engaging portion 4 is coupled withthe shaft 35 (see FIG. 4) to which the operating member 26 is alsocoupled. Thus, when the operating member 26 is pivoted either in theforward direction or reverse, the second engaging portion 34 also pivotseither in the forward direction or reverse in conjunction. Moreover, inthe present embodiment, the gripper 25 is also attached to the shaft 35that is couples the first engaging member 34 and the operating member26. However, the gripper 25 is configured to be pivotable independent ofthe shaft 35, and is configured not to operate in conjunction with theoperating member 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in between the shaft 35 and the container body22, a torsion coil spring 28 is disposed. Because of the torsion coilspring 28, not only the shaft 35 is biased in the clockwise directionwith reference to FIG. 9, but also the operating member 26 (the firstengaging portion 58) and the second engaging portion 34 that are coupledwith the shaft 35 are also biased in the clockwise direction withreference to FIG. 9. Moreover, with the use of a stopper that resiststhe bias of the torsion coil spring 28, the first engaging portion 58and the second engaging portion 34 are held at specified orientations.More particularly, in a natural state in which no external force isbeing applied to the operating member 26, the first engaging portion 58and the second engaging portion 34 are held in such a way that anopening between both ends of the erected portions 58 b and 34 b,respectively, are facing in an obliquely downward direction. In thepresent embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, as far as the direction ofthe opening of the second engaging portion 34 is concerned; when thetoner cartridge 7 is mounted on a mounting surface Z, the innerperiphery of the erected portion 58 b in the vicinity of the openingfaces a direction tilted toward the far side by 30° with respect to avertical line V corresponding to the horizontal plane. As illustrated inFIG. 14, the direction of the opening of the first engaging portion 58is also identical to the direction of the opening of the second engagingportion 34, and is tilted toward the far side by 30° with respect to thevertical line V.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 10, on the left-hand side 22 b of thecontainer body 22, a waste toner inlet 36 in the form of a square-shapedhole is formed for the purpose of discharging the waste toner into theinside (into the toner collecting unit 9). The waste toner inlet 36 isformed in an arc-like depressed portion 22 d that is formed under thepositioning projection 31; and has the hole in the upward direction.Around the waste toner inlet 36 is pasted a seal 36 a that is formedusing a sponge material. On the upper side of the seal 36 a, a wastetoner inlet shutter 37 is disposed (see FIG. 11) in a pivotable mannerso as to slide on the upper surface of the seal 36 a.

The waste toner inlet shutter 37 is curved to be able to pivot along thearc-like depressed portion 22 d. Moreover, in the state in which thetoner cartridge 7 is kept alone, the waste toner inlet shutter 37 isbiased by a biasing member 37 a, which is a torsion coil spring, in thedirection of rotation in which the waste toner inlet 36 always remainsclosed. The biasing member 37 a is placed in between the waste tonerinlet shutter 37 and the toner cartridge 7. The rotary shaft of thewaste toner inlet shutter 37 is inserted into the torsion coil spring(the biasing member 37 a). When the waste toner inlet shutter 37 pivots,it becomes possible to switch between an open state (the stateillustrated in FIG. 10) in which the waste toner inlet 36 is open and aclosed state (the state illustrated in FIG. 11) in which the waste tonerinlet 36 is closed.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, near the left-hand side 1 b of the processunit 1, a waste toner conveying path 39 having a tubular shape is laidin an inwardly protruding manner. At the end of the waste tonerconveying path 39 is disposed a waste toner outlet 38, through which thewaste toner is discharged and which has an opening in the downwarddirection. Moreover, to the outer periphery of the end of the wastetoner conveying path 39, a waste toner outlet shutter 40 is attached forthe purpose of opening and closing the waste toner outlet 38. The wastetoner outlet shutter 40 is configured to be able to pivot around theshaft center. Thus, it is possible to switch between an open state (astate illustrated in FIG. 13) in which the waste toner outlet 38 is openand a closed state (a state illustrated in FIG. 12) in which the wastetoner outlet 38 is closed.

The waste toner inlet shutter 37 is biased by the biasing member 37 a(see FIG. 10), which is made of a torsion coil spring, in the directionof closing the waste toner inlet 36; while the waste toner outletshutter 40 is biased by a biasing member 40 a (see FIG. 12), which ismade of a torsion coil spring, in the direction of closing the wastetoner outlet 38. Moreover, in the waste toner outlet shutter 40, aconvex portion 41 is formed, which the waste toner inlet shutter 37contacts at the time of attaching the toner cartridge 7 to the processunit 1. Once the waste toner inlet shutter 37 contacts the convexportion 41; the waste toner inlet shutter 37 pivots in the direction inwhich the waste toner inlet 36 opens (in the direction of an arrowillustrated in FIG. 10), while the waste toner outlet shutter 40 pivotsin the direction in which the waste toner outlet 38 opens (in thedirection of an arrow illustrated in FIG. 13). Then, in the state inwhich the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the process unit 1, the wastetoner inlet 36 in the open state and the waste toner outlet 38 in theopen state are positioned opposite to each other. Thus, in that state,the waste toner inlet 36 and the waste toner outlet 38 are incommunication with each other. As a result, the waste toner removed fromthe outer surface of the photosensitive member 2 can be discharged inthe toner cartridge 7 (i.e., in the toner collecting unit 9).

In contrast, in the state in which the toner cartridge 7 is removed fromthe process unit 1, the contacting between the waste toner inlet shutter37 and the convex portion 41 is released, and the waste toner inletshutter 37 and the waste toner outlet shutter 40 pivot in the biasingdirections of the respective biasing members (in the directions ofarrows illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively). As a result, thewaste toner inlet 36 and the waste toner outlet 38 are closed, therebypreventing any toner leakage from occurring through the waste tonerinlet 36 and the waste toner outlet 38.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 14, on a curved surface present nearthe right-hand side 22 a of the container body 22, a replenishment toneroutlet 42 in the form of a square-shaped hole is formed for the purposeof discharging the toner that is contained in the toner containing unit8. The replenishment toner outlet 42 has the hole in the downwarddirection. Moreover, under the replenishment toner outlet 42, areplenishment toner outlet shutter 43 is disposed along the curvedsurface (the arc-like surface) of the replenishment toner outlet 42. Thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43 can be used in opening and closingthe replenishment toner outlet 42. The replenishment toner outletshutter 43 is disposed in a pivotable manner along the curved surface(the arc-like surface) of the replenishment toner outlet 42 and in aconcentric manner to the cylindrical centerline of the positioningprojection 29 that is a cylindrical protrusion.

The replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 includes a protrusion 43 bthat protrudes in the rotary shaft direction of the replenishment toneroutlet shutter 43. As illustrated in FIG. 14, a torsion coil spring 43c, which serves as a biasing member, is disposed in between thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43 and the right-hand side 22 a,which serves as a cover member for hiding a gear. Moreover, at the endportion of the torsion coil spring 43 c is disposed a hook portion thatis hooked on the protrusion 43 b. Thus, the replenishment toner outletshutter 43 is biased by the torsion coil spring 43 c in the direction ofclosing the replenishment toner outlet 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, near the right-hand side 1 a of thedeveloping device 4 of the process unit 1, a replenishment toner inlet44 having an opening in the upward direction is disposed on thedeveloping device 4 and for the purpose of being poured thereplenishment toner. Moreover, in the vicinity of the replenishmenttoner inlet 44, a replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 is disposed. Whenthe replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 performs a sliding movementfrom side to side, the replenishment toner inlet 44 is opened andclosed.

FIG. 16 is an overall cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in the toner containing unit 8 of thecontainer body 22, an agitating blade 46 is disposed that serves as anagitating member for agitating the contained toner, and a conveyingscrew 47 is disposed that serves as a conveying member for conveying thecontained toner to the replenishment toner outlet 42. Moreover, in thetoner collecting unit 9 of the container body 22, a conveying screw 48is disposed that serves as a conveying member for conveying the wastetoner to the inside of the toner collecting unit 9.

To the conveying screw 47, the conveying screw 48, and the agitatingblade 46; a driving force is transmitted from a drive source, which isdisposed in the apparatus main body 100, via a drive transmissionmechanism. More particularly, in the present embodiment, on theright-hand side 22 a of the container body 22, a drive transmissionmechanism as a drive transmission unit is disposed that includes acoupling 49 (see FIG. 4) and a plurality of transmission gears that arearranged behind the cover member 22 a and mesh with the coupling 49, theconveying screw 47, the conveying screw 48, and the agitating blade 46.When the toner cartridge 7 (the toner container) is mounted in theapparatus main body 100, a drive transmission member engages with thecoupling 49. As a result, it becomes possible to perform drivetransmission from the drive source disposed in the apparatus main body100 to the conveying screw 47, the conveying screw 48, and the agitatingblade 46.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 isformed in an arc-like manner along the tubular shape of thereplenishment toner outlet 42. On one part of the replenishment toneroutlet shutter 43, a hole 43 a is formed for the purpose of dischargingthe toner. Moreover, the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 isconfigured to be able to pivot along the outer periphery of thereplenishment toner outlet 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 16(a), when the replenishment toner outletshutter 43 pivots in the counterclockwise direction with reference toFIG. 16(a), the replenishment toner outlet 42 is closed by thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43. On the other hand, as illustratedin FIG. 16(b), when the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 pivots inthe clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 16(b), the hole 43 a ofthe replenishment toner outlet 42 is placed at a position of being incommunication with the replenishment toner outlet 42.

Meanwhile, the operating member 26, which has the locking function asdescribed above, doubles as a member for opening and closing thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43. However, the operating member 26and the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 are placed at a distancefrom each other and are not directly connected to each other. That is,when the toner cartridge 7 (the toner container) is kept alone, theoperating member 26 and the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 are inan uncoupled state. Hence, even if the operating member 26 is operated,the opening and closing of the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 isnot performed.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, in the present embodiment, in the processunit 1, a linking member 51 is disposed via which the operating member26 and the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 can be switched to acoupled state.

Given below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20 is the detailed explanationof the configuration of the operating member 26, the replenishment toneroutlet shutter 43, and the linking member 51.

In the following explanation, unless particularly necessary, thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43 is simply referred to the“shutter”.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the linking member 51 is made of an elongatedmember. One end of the linking member 51 is engaged with the firstengaging portion 58. Similarly, the other end of the linking member 51is engaged with the shutter 43.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the protrusion 43 b of the shutter 43 servesas an engaging portion that can engage with the linking member 51. Theprotrusion 43 b protrudes in the rotary shaft direction of the shutter43. As described earlier, the shutter 43 is biased by the torsion coilspring 43 c in the direction of closing the replenishment toner outlet42 (see the arrow illustrated in FIG. 16).

The linking member 51 is made of resin, which is relatively soft andeasily elastically-deformable, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene(PE), or oil impregnated polyacetal (POM). As illustrated in FIGS. 19and 20, the linking member 51 is configured with a pivoting portion 52and a linear portion 53 that is made of a belt member or a stringmember. The member is flexible in nature and connects the pivotingportion 52.

The pivoting portion 52 that is formed at one end of the linking member51 includes a convex portion 52 a having a gentle mountain-like shape.As illustrated in FIG. 15, the pivoting portion 52 is disposed on theinside of the supporting portion 54 and the supporting portion 54 isdisposed on the right-hand side 1 a of the process unit 1. The pivotingportion 54 is attached rotatabley with respect to the supporting portion54 via an axle 52 b. When the toner cartridge 7 (the toner container) isattached to the process unit 1, the supporting portion 54 engages withthe first engaging surface 58 c of the first engaging portion 58, andthe convex portion 52 a of the pivoting portion 52 is housed in thespace inside the first engaging surface 58 c. At that time, asillustrated in FIG. 20, the base portions on both sides of the convexportion 52 a, which are the parts enclosed by broken line circlesrespectively, come in contact with the first engaging surface 58 c.Herein, contact locations Q1 and Q2 are below the axle 52 b.

The linear portion 53 includes a protrusion 53 a that serves as alinking-member engaging portion which can engage with or, in otherwords, which can get hooked on the protrusion 43 b of the shutter 43.The protrusion 53 a is made of a rib that protrudes in the perpendiculardirection to the longitudinal direction of the linear portion 53.

Moreover, in the linear portion 53, a guided portion 53 b is disposedthat gets inserted in a groove 55. The groove 55 guides to move theguided portion 53 b linearly. The groove is served as a guiding portion55 (see FIG. 17) and formed on the right-hand side 1 a of the processunit 1. When the guided portion 53 b moves along the guiding portion 55,the linear portion 53 can perform a reciprocating linear movement.Moreover, at the end of the guided portion 53 b is disposed a stud 53 cthat is wider than the groove width of the guiding portion 55 and thatprevents the guided portion 53 b from coming off from the guidingportion 55. Furthermore, one end of a tension spring 56, which serves asa biasing member, engages with the end of the linear portion 53 that isdisposed at the protrusion 53 a and is closer to the shutter 43 (seeFIGS. 17 and 18). The other end of the tension spring 56 engages withthe right-hand side 1 a of the process unit 1. Because of the tensionspring 56, the linking member 51 is biased toward the far side.

With the configuration of the linking member 51 done in the mannerdescribed above, when the pivoting portion 52 pivots in the direction ofan arrow C1 illustrated in FIG. 20, the linear portion 53 is pulled andthus moves linearly in the direction illustrated by an arrow D1illustrated in FIG. 20. On the other hand, when the pivoting portion 52pivots in the direction of an arrow C2 illustrated in FIG. 20, thelinear portion 53 is pressed and thus moves linearly in the directionillustrated by an arrow D2 illustrated in FIG. 20.

Given below is the explanation of the opening/closing operation of theshutter (the replenishment toner outlet shutter).

As illustrated in FIG. 17, in the state in which the toner cartridge 7(the toner container) is attached to the process unit 1, and the firstengaging surface 58 c of the operating member 26 is engaged with thepivoting portion 52 of the linking member 51; when the operating member26 is pivoted toward the near side as illustrated in FIG. 18, thepivoting portion 52 pivots in the clockwise direction with reference toFIG. 18. Along with that, the linear portion 53 gets pulled and moveslinearly toward the near side. At that time, the protrusion 53 a that isdisposed at the end portion of the linear portion 53 gets hooked on theprotrusion 43 b of the shutter 43 (see FIG. 19). As a result, theshutter 43 pivots in the direction of opening and thus the replenishmenttoner outlet 42 becomes open.

In the present embodiment, when the replenishment toner outlet 42becomes open, the replenishment toner inlet 44 (see FIG. 15) in theprocess unit 1 is already in the open state. For that reason, at thepoint of time when the replenishment toner outlet 42 becomes open, it ispossible to replenish the toner from the toner cartridge 7 (the tonercontainer) to the developing device 4 of the process unit 1.

On the other hand, when the operating member 26 is pivoted toward thefar side as illustrated in FIG. 17, the pivoting portion 52 pivots inthe counterclockwise direction with reference to FIG. 17. Along withthat, the linear portion 53 moves toward the far side due to the tensionspring 56. As a result, the shutter 43 is pivoted in the direction ofclosing and thus the replenishment toner outlet 42 becomes closed.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, when the operating member 26 ispivoted toward the near side in order to open the shutter 43 asdescribed above; at the same time, the locking portion 26 c 1 of theoperating member 26 engages with the engaging portion 1 c of the processunit 1 and gets locked (see FIG. 6(b)). On the other hand, when theoperating member 26 is rotated toward the far side in order to close theshutter 43; at the same time, the engagement between the locking portion26 c 1 and the engaging portion 1 c is released (see FIG. 6(a)). In thisway, in the present embodiment, as a result of operating the operatingmember 26, the shutter 43 can be opened with the toner cartridge 7fixing to the process unit 1 and can be closed with the fixed statebetween the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 released.

Once the locked state is released, it becomes possible to remove thetoner cartridge 7 from the process unit 1. When the toner cartridge 7 isremoved from the process unit 1, the operating member 26 and the shutter43 come into the uncoupled state. Thus, in this state, even if anoperator casually moves the operating member 26, the shutter 43 does notpivot. In this way, in the state in which the toner cartridge 7 isremoved, the operation for opening the shutter 43 cannot be performed.As a result, it becomes possible to prevent toner leakage from occurringthrough the replenishment toner outlet 42.

Moreover, the linear portion 53 is configured to be able to perform areciprocating linear movement. Hence, even if the configuration is suchthat the operating member 26 and the shutter 43 are disposed at the nearside and the far side at a distance from each other, these distantcomponents, the operating member 26 and the shutter 43, can besynchronized within a small space in order to link. As compared to aconfiguration in which, for example, a gear train is used as a linkingmember, the linear portion 53 which has a smaller number of componentsthan the gear train can achieve a reduction of the installation space ofthe linking member. With that, it becomes possible to achieve downsizingof the image forming apparatus, and to provide a toner cartridge thatcan be attached to a downsized image forming apparatus.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the linking member 51 has acompact configuration. Hence, particularly in a configuration in whichmechanical components are saturated, the installation space for thelinking member can be secured while avoiding interference with the othercomponents. For example, as described above in the embodiment, when thecoupling 49 that constitutes a drive transmission mechanism is disposedin between the operating member 26 and the shutter 43 which are linkedtogether (see FIG. 17), the linking member 51 needs to be disposed whileavoiding interference with the coupling 49. In such a configuration too,according to the embodiment described above, when viewed from adirection perpendicular to the right-hand side 1 a of the process unit 1and the right-hand side 22 a of the container body 22, the linkingmember 51 and the coupling 49 can be disposed in a mutuallynon-overlapping manner on the sides la and 22 a that are present on thesame right-hand side of the process unit 1 and the container body 22,respectively.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment described above, the explanation is givenfor an exemplary configuration in which the toner cartridge candetachably mounted in the mounting portion of the process unit. However,alternatively, the configuration can be such that the toner cartridgecan be detachably mounted directly in a mounting portion of theapparatus main body. That is, the linking member can be disposed in theapparatus main body instead of the process unit.

Meanwhile, in a configuration in which opening and closing of a shutteris performed using an operating lever; if, after the toner container isremoved, an operator such as an operator forgets to operate theoperating lever thereby leaving a communication port (a replenishmenttoner inlet) open, then there is a chance of toner leakage occurring.

In view of such an issue, it is an object of another aspect of thepresent invention to provide a toner container in which, in tandem withan operation of removing the toner container from a developing device,the replenishment toner inlet is closed; to provide a developing deviceto which the toner container can be detachably attached; to provide aprocess cartridge; and to provide an image forming apparatus.

The summary of an invention solving the issue mentioned above is below.A toner container that is detachably attachable to a developing device,the developing device including: an inlet to be poured a toner; an inletshutter to move between a closing position, at which the inlet isclosed, and an opening position, at which the inlet is open; a biasingmember to bias the inlet shutter toward the closing position; an engagedportion provided in the inlet shutter; an engaging portion to engagewith the engaged portion and to retain the inlet shutter at the openingposition against a biasing force of the biasing member; and anengagement releasing portion provided in the inlet shutter and torelease an engaging state between the engaged portion and the engagingportion; and the toner container comprising: a contacting surface tocontact with the engagement releasing portion and to make the engagementreleasing portion release the engaging state.

Given below with reference to FIGS. 22 to 26 is the detailed explanationof the opening/closing mechanism of the replenishment toner inletshutter 45 (see FIG. 15).

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a shutteropening/closing mechanism disposed at the developing device 4.

The replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 is configured to able tolinearly move between a closing position for closing the replenishmenttoner inlet 44 (the position illustrated in FIG. 22(a)) and an openingposition for opening the replenishment toner inlet 44 (the positionillustrated in FIG. 22(b)). In the present embodiment, the replenishmenttoner inlet shutter 45 is configured to be able to perform areciprocating movement in the longitudinal direction of the developingdevice 4, that is, in the axis direction of a developing roller.

The replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 has a shutter body 45 a thatcloses the replenishment toner inlet 44. Moreover, the shutter body 45 ahas a hole 45 b formed therein. At the opening position illustrated inFIG. 22(b), the hole 45 b formed on the shutter body 45 a is placed atthe position opposite to the replenishment toner inlet 44. Hence, thereplenishment toner inlet 44 becomes open. On the other hand, at theclosing position illustrated in FIG. 22(a), the hole 45 b formed on theshutter body 45 a is placed at a position not opposite to thereplenishment toner inlet 44. Hence, the replenishment toner inlet 44becomes closed by the shutter body 45 a. Meanwhile, on the rim of thehole 45 b is pasted a seal 45 c that is made of a sponge material. Whenthe toner cartridge 7 (the toner container) is attached to thedeveloping device 4 and when the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43becomes open, the seal 45 c adheres tightly to the rim of the hole 43 a(see FIG. 14) formed on the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43, andprevents the toner from leaking out.

Moreover, in the shutter body 45 a, a retainer 45 d is so formed that ahook 71 a at one of a coil spring 71, which serves as a biasing member,is hooked on the retainer 45 d. A hook 71 b at the other end of the coilspring 71 is hooked on a retainer 4 b formed on a casing 4 a of thedeveloping device 4 in the process unit 1. Due to the biasing force ofthe coil spring 71, the shutter body 45 a is always biased toward theside of the closing position (toward the right-hand side with referenceto FIG. 22).

Furthermore, in the shutter body 45 a is disposed an elongated portion45 e as an extending portion that extends in the direction of movementtoward the opening position (toward the left-hand side with reference toFIG. 22). On the upper surface at the end of the elongated portion 45 e,an engaged portion 45 f that has a hook protruding upward is disposed.Corresponding to the engaged portion 45 f, in the casing 4 a of thedeveloping device 4, an engaging portion 4 c is disposed that is aprotrusion which can get engaged with the engaged portion 45 f. Herein,the engaging portion 4 c protrudes downward from the inner surface of anengaging member 4 d which is a case and is disposed in an upwardlyrising manner from the casing 4 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 22(b), in the engaging state of the engagingportion 4 c and the engaged portion 45 f, the shutter body 45 a is heldat the opening position against the biasing force of the coil spring 71.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, accompanying the movement of the shutter body45 a toward the opening position, the engaged portion 45 f abuts againstthe engaging portion 4 c and makes a sliding contact with the engagingportion 4 c. Consequently, the engaging portion 4 c undergoes elasticdeformation in such a way that the elongated portion 45 e bendsdownward. As a result, the engaged portion 45 f goes over the engagingportion 4 c. At the point of time of when the engaged portion 45 f goesover the engaging portion 4 c, the elongated portion 45 e returnsupward. With that, the engaged portion 45 f and the engaging portion 4 cget engaged. Herein, in order to make it easier for the engaged portion45 f to go over the engaging portion 4 c, the contact-making portion ofthe engaging portion 4 c has a tilted surface 4 c 1 formed thereon,while the contact-making portion of the engaged portion 45 f has atilted surface 45 f 1 formed thereon.

Meanwhile, alternatively, the engaging portion 4 c may be disposed inthe toner cartridge 7 for the purpose of retaining the shutter body 45a. However, as described in the present embodiment, by disposing theengaging portion 4 c in the casing 4 a of the developing device 4, thetoner cartridge 7 can be spared from being applied with the loadgenerated at the time of retaining the shutter body 45 a. As a result,it becomes possible to maintain a stable mounted state of the tonercartridge 7 with respect to the developing device 4.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 22, in the in-between portion in thelongitudinal direction of the elongated portion 45 e, an engagementreleasing portion 45 g is disposed for the purpose of releasing theengaging state of the engaging portion 4 c and the engaged portion 45 fin cooperation with the toner cartridge 7 (described later). Theengagement releasing portion 45 g is a curved surface that protrudes inthe upward direction. In other words, the portion 45 g is a bulge on theelongated portion 45 e.

Furthermore, in the shutter body 45 a is disposed a pressed portion 45 hthat is a side part of the shutter body 45 a and is used to generate aforce for moving the shutter body 45 a to the opening position incooperation with attaching movement of the toner cartridge 7 (describedlater). The pressed portion 45 h is a tilted surface that is tilted withrespect to the direction of movement of the shutter body 45 a.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the right-hand sideof the developing device 4 and the toner cartridge 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, on the right-hand side of the container body22 of the toner cartridge 7, the replenishment toner outlet 42 isdisposed along with the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 that hasthe shape of a curved surface (an arc surface) for opening and closingthe replenishment toner outlet 42. To further right-hand side than thereplenishment toner outlet 42 is disposed a pressing portion 22 e thatis a protrusion in the radially outside direction more than thereplenishment toner outlet shutter 43. In other words the pressingportion 22 e is a bulge on the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43.The pressing portion 22 e has a pressing surface 22 f for pressing thepressed portion 45 h of the shutter body 45 a. At the time of attachingthe toner cartridge 7, the pressing surface 22 f abuts against thepressed portion 45 h. Then, in the state in which the shutter body 45 ais placed at the closing position as illustrated in FIG. 24, the pressedportion 45 h of the shutter body 45 a is placed on a pathway E1 followedby the pressing surface 22 f during the mounting operation of the tonercartridge 7. In other words, the pathway E1 is configured to go throughthe position of the pressed portion 45 h in the state in which theshutter body 45 a is placed at the closing position. Then, thecontacting of the pressing surface 22 f and the pressed portion 45 hgenerates a force on the pressed portion 45 h to move the shutter body45 a to the opening position (to the left-hand side in FIG. 24) againstthe biasing force of the coil spring 71.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 25, a mountingdirection B1 of the toner cartridge 7 is different than a direction ofmovement L of the shutter body 45 a toward the opening position. Hence,by forming the pressed portion 45 h as a tilted surface, the contactforce of the pressing surface 22 f can be converted into a force formoving the shutter body 45 a toward the opening position. Moreparticularly, the pressed portion 45 h is tilted to face a directionthat is opposite to the mounting direction B1 of the toner cartridge 7with respect to the developing device 4 as well as opposite to thedirection of movement L of the shutter body 45 a toward the openingposition (in FIG. 25, tilted to face the right-hand downward direction).

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 24, in the container body 22 of thetoner cartridge 7, a protrusion 22 g that protrudes downward is disposedon the left-hand side of the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43. Theprotrusion 22 g has a contacting surface 22 h for contacting with theengagement releasing portion 45 g. In the state in which the shutterbody 45 a is placed at the closing position as illustrated in FIG. 24,the engagement releasing portion 45 g is not placed on a pathway E2followed by the contacting surface 22 h during the mounting operation ofthe toner cartridge 7. However, in the state in which the shutter body45 a is placed at the opening position illustrated by a two-dot chainline in FIG. 24, the engagement releasing portion 45 g is placed on thepathway E2 followed by the contacting surface 22 h. In other words, thepathway E2 is configured to go through the position of the engagementreleasing portion 45 g in the state in which the shutter body 45 a isplaced at the opening position.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, when the contacting surface 22 h of theprotrusion 22 g contacts the engagement releasing portion 45 g, itresults in pushing down the engagement releasing portion 45 g by theprotrusion 22 g. Thus, the engagement releasing portion 45 g undergoeselastic deformation in such a way that the elongated portion 45 e bendsdownward. As a result, the engaging state between the engaged portion 45f and the engaging portion 4 c is released. In other words, thecontacting surface 22 h contacts with the engagement releasing portion45 g and makes the engagement releasing portion 45 g release theengaging state.

Given below is the explanation about the opening/closing operation ofthe replenishment toner inlet shutter 45.

Firstly, explained below with reference to FIG. 27 is the openingoperation of the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45.

As illustrated in FIG. 27(a), in the state in which the toner cartridge7 is not mounted in the mounting portion of the developing device 4, thereplenishment toner inlet shutter 45 remains at the closing position,and the replenishment toner inlet 44 is closed by the shutter body 45 a.In that state, if the toner cartridge 7 is inserted in the mountingdirection B1; then, as illustrated in FIG. 27(b), the pressing surface22 f of the toner cartridge 7 contacts the pressed portion 45 h of theshutter body 45 a. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 27(c), due to thepressing force exerted on the toner cartridge 7 in the mountingdirection B1, the pressed portion 45 h gets pressed via the pressingsurface 22 f, and the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 starts movingtoward the opening position against the biasing force of the coil spring71. In other words, the toner cartridge 7 (the toner container) furtherincludes the pressing surface 22 f to contact the pressed portion 45 hprovided in the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45, and to move theshutter to the opening position against a biasing force of the coilspring 71 (the biasing member).

If the toner cartridge is further inserted in the mounting direction B1;then, as illustrated in FIG. 27(d), the engaged portion 45 f present atthe end of the elongated portion 45 e gets engaged with the engagingportion 4 c. As a result, the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 getslocked at the opening position. At that time, the hole 45 b formed onthe shutter body 45 a corresponds to the replenishment toner inlet 44and the replenishment toner inlet 44 becomes open. Meanwhile, as thereplenishment toner inlet shutter 45 moves to the opening position, thecontacting surface 22 f of the toner cartridge 7 and the engagementreleasing portion 45 g of the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 passby each other without contacting. With that, it is ensured that thereplenishment toner inlet shutter 45 moves smoothly to the openingposition.

Explained below with reference to FIG. 28 is the closing operation ofthe replenishment toner inlet shutter 45.

As illustrated in FIG. 28(a), after the toner cartridge 7 is attached tothe developing device 4 and after the replenishment toner inlet shutter45 is retained at the opening position, if the toner cartridge 7 ismoved in a direction of removal B2; then, as illustrated in FIG. 28(b),the contacting surface 22 h of the toner cartridge 7 contacts theengagement releasing portion 45 g of the replenishment toner inletshutter 45. Once the contacting surface 22 h contacts the engagementreleasing portion 45 g, it results in pushing down the engagementreleasing position by the contacting surface 22 h. Consequently, theelongated portion 45 e bends downward (see FIG. 26), and the engagingstate between the engaged portion 45 f and the engaging portion 4 c isreleased.

As illustrated in FIG. 28(c), once the engaging state between theengaged portion 45 f and the engaging portion 4 c is released, thereplenishment toner inlet shutter 45 gets pulled toward the closingposition due to the biasing force of the coil spring 71. Thus, asillustrated in FIG. 28(d), when the toner cartridge 7 is removed fromthe developing device 4, the replenishment toner inlet shutter 45 isplaced at the closing position and the replenishment toner inlet 44becomes closed by the shutter body 45 a.

In this configuration, in conjunction with attaching the toner cartridgethe developing device or removing the toner cartridge from thedeveloping device, the shutter of the developing device (i.e., the tonerreplenishment inlet shutter) can be opened or closed. That enablesachieving excellent operability of the shutter. Moreover, it becomespossible to prevent a situation in which an operator forgets to open theshutter or forgets to close the shutter.

Meanwhile, it is not always the case that a toner cartridge, whichfunctions as a toner container, is attached to animage-forming-apparatus main body at a correct position. That is, thereare times when the toner cartridge is attached to animage-forming-apparatus main body in a twisted state or in a tiltedstate. In the state of the poor attachment; if the operating lever isoperational, then there may occur toner scattering or toner leakage inthe image forming apparatus.

In view of such an issue, it is an object of still another aspect of thepresent invention to provide a toner container in which, even if thetoner container is poorly attached to a developing device, the toner isreliably prevented from leaking; as well as to provide a processcartridge and an image forming apparatus.

The summary of an invention solving the issue mentioned above is below.A toner container including: a container body to contain a toner andthat is attachable to and detachable from a developing device; an outletto discharge the toner contained in the container body; an outletshutter to open and close the outlet; and an operating member to movethe shutter according a direction of rotation thereof, the operatingmember being attached in a rotatable manner to the container body andthat, wherein the operating member includes an engaging portion that isrotatable in conjunction with rotation of the operating member and thatis rotatably supported by engagement with a supporting portion providedin the developing device.

Given below with reference to FIGS. 29 to 41 is the explanation of acharacteristic configuration according to the present invention.

In the present invention, the shaft 35 that is used to pivot theoperating member 26 is supported by the toner cartridge 7(the tonercontainer). And the shaft 35 is also supported at the sides of theprocess unit 1 when the toner cartridge 7(the toner container) isattached to the process unit 1. For the purpose of achieving suchsupport, the engaging portions 58 and 34 are disposed at both ends inthe axis direction of the shaft 35; and the supporting portions 54 and33 are disposed on the surfaces on both sides of the process unit 1.Thus, the supporting portions 54 and 33 engage with the engagingportions 58 and 34, respectively.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of a cross-sectional contour of the outerperiphery of each of the supporting portions 54 and 33 that are formedon the sides la and 1 b, respectively, of the process unit 1. The outerperiphery of both supporting portions 33 and 54 is identical in shape,which is formed by removing two parts which are opposite to each otherin the radial-direction of a cylindrical surface. More particularly, theouter periphery of each of the supporting portions 33 and 54 includestwo arc-like inner surfaces 62 having a radius R1, connecting surfaces63 that connect arc-like inner surfaces 62 in an inside of an imaginarycircle (illustrated by a two-dot chain line) having the same radius asthe arc-like inner surfaces 62, and arc-like chamfers 64 that smoothlyconnect each arc-like inner surface 62 with the neighboring connectingsurfaces 63.

As illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 36A, the radius R1 of an arc-likeengaging surface 34 c 2 is equal to a radius of curvature R2 of thefirst engaging surface 58 c of the first engaging portion 58 and thearc-like engaging surface 34 c 2 of the second engaging surface 34 c ofthe second engaging portion 34 (i.e., R1=R2). Moreover, in thisembodiment, the connecting surfaces 63 are flat surfaces parallel toeach other, and a width W1 between the two connecting surfaces 63 issmaller than a width W2 of the first engaging portion 58 c and thesecond engaging portion 34 c at the opening-side end portions (i.e.,W1<W2). Of the chamfers 64 formed on the outer periphery of each of thesupporting portions 33 and 54, a chamfer 64 a positioned on the far side(in the direction A1 illustrated in FIG. 30) and on the lower side has agreater radius of curvature r as compared to the radii of curvature ofthe other three chamfers. The chamfer 64 a functions as a clearanceretaining portion for avoiding interference with the first engagingsurface 58 c or the second engaging surface 34 c that rotates in themanner described later. Meanwhile, regarding the connecting surfaces 63,aside from forming them as flat surfaces, it is also possible to formthem as arc-like surfaces having a greater radius of curvature ascompared to the radius of curvature R1 of the arc-like engaging surface34 c 2. Moreover, the chamfers 64, including the clearance retainingportion 64 a, can be formed with two or more arc-like surfaces havingdifferent radii of curvature.

The connecting surfaces 63 of each of the supporting portions 33 and 54have the upper parts of themselves tilted toward the near side. Herein,the angle of tilt of the connecting surfaces 63 is about the same as theangle of tilt of the first engaging surface 58 c (see FIG. 9) and theangle of tilt of the second engaging surface 34 c (see FIG. 14) in thestate in which the toner cartridge 7 is removed from the process unit 1.In other words, the state is that the toner cartridge 7 is kept alone.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6(b), 7(a), 15, and 29; the right-hand side 1 aof the process unit 1 has a protrusion 66 disposed thereon. In the statein which the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the process unit 1, theprotrusion 66 is arranged at such a position that the outer periphery ofthe outer wall 581 of the first engaging portion 58 is restrained fromthe radially outside. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 12, and 13;the left-hand side 1 b of the process unit 1 has a protrusion 67disposed thereon in a similar manner to the protrusion 66. In the statein which the toner cartridge 7 is attached to the process unit 1, theouter periphery of the outer wall 341 of the second engaging portion 34(see FIG. 9) is restrained by the protrusion 67.

Given below is the detailed explanation of a configuration of the firstengaging portion 58 and the second engaging portion 34.

The outer wall 581 that is formed in the first engaging portion 58 isformed as an arc-like surface. The center of the arc-like surfacecorresponds to the center of rotation of the shaft 35 (the axle 52 b).As illustrated in FIG. 36(a), the first engaging surface 58 c serving asthe inner periphery of the inner wall 582 includes the arc-like engagingsurface 34 c 2 (a curved engaging surface) having the same center as thecenter of the outer periphery of the outer wall 581. Of the arc-likeengaging surface 34 c 2, both ends in the circumferential direction areformed as flat surfaces extending in the tangential direction. In thoseportions, a non-arc-like engaging surface 34 c 1 (a flat engagingsurface) is formed as a rotation restricting portion. In other words,the non-arc-like engaging surface 34 c 1 is a rotation restricting wall.

As illustrated in FIG. 31, on the tops of the outer wall 581 and theinner wall 582 of the first engaging portion 34, notches 58 e and 58 dare respectively formed in some of the area in the circumferentialdirection. The notches 58 d and 58 e are formed at such positions that,while attaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1, theprotrusion 66 disposed on the right-hand side 1 a of the process unit 1passes through the notches 58 d and 58 e. In the present embodiment, thenotches 58 e and 58 d are formed on the arc-like tops of the outer wall581 and the inner wall 582, respectively, of the first engaging portion.

The notch 58 d formed on the inner wall 582 has a greater depth than thedepth of the notch 58 e formed on the outer wall 581. And a part of thetop of the inner wall 582 in which the notch 58 d is formed forms a lowstep portion. The low step portion is closest to the baseplate portion58 a from among the top of the outer wall 581 and the top of the innerwall 582. The low step portion has the lower height than the heightsthat the outer wall 581 and the inner wall 582 have respectively.Moreover, a part of the top of the outer wall 582 in which the notch 58e is formed forms a middle step portion that is next closest to thebaseplate portion 58 a. Except for the low step portion 58 d and themiddle step portion 58 e, the top of the outer wall 581 and the top ofthe inner wall 582 constitute a high step portion 58 f that is mostseparated from the baseplate portion 58 a. Meanwhile, regarding theouter wall 581 and the inner wall 582, both end portions in thecircumferential direction can be formed to be tapered surfacesdecreasing its height toward the end side.

The low step portion 58 d is set to have such a height that, whileattaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1, the protrusion 66formed on the right-hand side 1 a of the process unit 1 can pass throughwithout making contact with the top of the low step portion 58 e. Incontrast, the middle step portion 58 e is set to have such a heightthat, while attaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1, theprotrusion 66 interferes with the top of the middle step portion 58 e.Thus, due to the passing of the protrusion 66, the middle step portion58 e undergoes elastic deformation.

Given below is the detailed explanation of the second engaging portion34.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the outer wall 341 formed in the secondengaging portion 34 is formed as an arc-like surface in such a way thatthe center of rotation of the shaft 35 serves as the center of theentire outer periphery of the outer wall 341. The second engagingsurface 34 c serving as the inner periphery of the inner wall 342 isidentical to the first engaging surface 58 c in view of the shaftdirection. The second engaging surface 34 c includes an arc-likeengaging surface (a curved engaging surface) having the same center asthe center of the outer periphery of the outer wall 341, and both endsof the second engaging surface 34 c forming flat non-arc-like engagingsurfaces (flat engaging surfaces).

As illustrated in FIG. 32, on the tops of the outer wall 341 and theinner wall 342 of the second engaging portion 34, notches 34 d areformed in some of the area in the circumferential direction. Herein, inan identical manner to the first engaging portion 58, the notches 34 dare set at such positions that, while attaching the toner cartridge tothe process unit 1, the protrusion 67 formed on the left-hand side 1 bof the process unit 1 passes through the notches 34 d. In the firstengaging portion 58, the notches 58 e and 58 d are formed in ahalf-arc-like area in the circumferential direction of the outer wall581 and the inner wall 582, respectively. However, in the secondengaging portion 34, the notch 34 d is formed over the entire areastarting from the half-arc-like area of one of the outer wall 341 andthe inner wall 342 up to the end of the other of the outer wall 341 andthe inner wall 342.

The notches 34 d that are formed on the outer wall 341 and the innerwall 342 of the second engaging portion 34 have the same height. Thus,without constituting a middle step portion that interferes with theprotrusion 67, each notch 34 d constitutes a low step portion that doesnot interfere with the protrusion 67. Except for the low step portions34 d, the top of the outer wall 581 and the top of the inner wall 582constitute a high step portion 34 f that is most separated from thebaseplate portion 58 a. Meanwhile, regarding the outer wall 341 and theinner wall 342, the area up to the other ends can be formed to betapered surfaces decreasing its height toward the end.

Given below is the explanation of the operations performed at the timeof attaching the toner cartridge 7 to the process unit 1.

While attaching to the process unit 1, the toner cartridge 7 is broughtdown from an obliquely upward direction by the operator. At that time,as illustrated in FIG. 36(a), the supporting portions 54 and 33 havealmost or identically the same tilt as the tilt of the first engagingsurface 58 c and the second engaging surface 34 c, respectively. Hence,the supporting portions 54 and 33 can be smoothly guided in the firstengaging surface 58 c and the second engaging surface 34 c,respectively. Moreover, in the supporting portions 54 and 33, the widthW1 between the two connecting surfaces 63 is smaller than the width W2of the first engaging portion 58 c and the second engaging portion 34 cat the opening-side end portions. Hence, even if the direction ofbringing down the toner cartridge 7 is little out of alignment, thesupporting portions 54 and 33 can be reliably guided in the firstengaging surface 58 c and the second engaging surface 34 c,respectively.

Once the toner cartridge 7 is pressed up to a specified position in theprocess unit 1; then, as illustrated in FIG. 36(a), the arc-like innersurfaces 62 of the upper part of each of the supporting portions 54 and33 engage with the first engaging surface 58 c and the second engagingsurface 34 c, respectively. In that state, as illustrated in FIGS. 33(a)and 33(b), even before rotating the operating member 26 forward for thelocking purpose, the protrusions 66 and 67 contact and restrain theouter periphery of the first engaging portion 58 (i.e., the outerperiphery of the outer wall 581) from above. For that reason, the tonercartridge 7 remains in a preliminarily-held state in which it isrestricted from coming off in the upward direction. Because of thepreliminarily-held state of the toner cartridge 7, even if the operatoronly sets the toner cartridge 7 in the process unit 1 but forgets tolock while carrying the process unit 1, the toner cartridge 7 can beprevented from being separated from the process unit 1 while beingcarried. Hence, it becomes possible to prevent toner leakage or tonerscattering caused by the separation of the toner cartridge 7 from theprocess unit 1.

At that time, with respect to the first engaging portion 58, theprotrusion 66 illustrated in FIG. 33(a) applies a restraining force inan obliquely downward direction. Similarly, with respect to the secondengaging portion 34, the protrusion 67 illustrated in FIG. 33(b) appliesa restraining force in the downward direction. In this way, on the sidesof the toner cartridge 7, the positions at which the engaging portions58 and 34 are restrained by the protrusions 66 and 67, respectively, areset to be different positions in the circumferential direction. As aresult, the toner cartridge 7 can be subjected to two types ofrestraining force having different directions. Hence, regardless of theorientation of the process unit 1 at the time of carrying, it can bedifficult for the toner cartridge 7 to come off from the process unit 1.

During the process of preliminarily holding the toner cartridge 7, theprotrusion 66 (see FIG. 29) formed on the right-hand side of the processunit 1 first passes through the low step portion 58 d of the inner wall582 of the first engaging portion 58 and then passes through the middlestep portion 58 e of the outer wall 581 of the first engaging portion58. At that time, the protrusion 66 passes through the low step portion58 d without making any contact, but causes the middle step portion 58 eto undergo elastic deformation and goes over the middle step portion 58e. Once the protrusion 66 goes over the middle step portion 58 e thatfunctions as an elastically deforming portion, the deformed middle stepportion 58 e elastically returns. That gives a click feeling to theoperator who attached the toner cartridge 7. Because of the clickfeeling, the operator becomes able to recognize that the toner cartridge7 has been correctly attached. Hence, it becomes possible to prevent inadvance a poor attachment of the toner cartridge 7.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, since the low step portion 34 d ofthe second engaging portion 34 does not come in contact with theprotrusion 67 (see FIG. 12), there is no click feeling in the secondengaging portion 34 even after the completion in the attachment of thetoner cartridge 7. If it is desirable to have a click feeling in thesecond engaging portion 34 too; then a portion equivalent to the middlestep portion 58 e, which is formed in the first engaging portion 58, canbe formed on the outer wall 341 of the second engaging portion 34.

From the preliminarily-held state described above, when the operatingmember 26 is rotated in the forward direction to a locked stateillustrated in FIGS. 34(a) and 34(b); then, as illustrated in FIG.36(b), the first engaging portion 58 and the second engaging portion 34rotate in the forward direction. And the arc-like inner surfaces 62 ofeach of the supporting portions 54 and 33 engage with the first engagingsurface 58 c and the second engaging surface 34 c, respectively. At thattime, along with the rotation of the first engaging portion 58 and thesecond engaging portion 34, the protrusions 66 and 67 slide on the outerperipheries of the first engaging portion 58 and the second engagingportion 34, respectively, while pressing the first engaging portion 58and the second engaging portion 34, respectively, downward.

On the other hand, while removing the toner cartridge 7 from the processunit 1, the operating member 26 is rotated in the reverse direction.Along with that, the first engaging portion 58 and the second engagingportion 34 rotate in the reverse direction, and return to thepreliminarily-held state illustrated in FIGS. 33(a) and 33(b). When theprotrusions 66 and 67 respectively reach the notches 58 e and 34 d ofthe first engaging portion 58 and the second engaging portion 34,respectively; the downward pressing force applied from the protrusions66 and 67 disappears. As a result, the first engaging portion 58, thesecond engaging portion 34, and the toner cartridge 7 pop up a littlebit. With that, the operator can visually confirm that the tonercartridge 7 is unlocked.

In the locked state, the toner cartridge 7 is fixed to the process unit1. Hence, as illustrated in FIG. 21, by gripping the gripper 25, theoperator can treat the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 as anintegrated process cartridge (for the purpose of performing operationsor carrying). At that time, the process cartridge is significantly heavybecause of its own weight as well as the toner filled therein. In casethe locking portion 26 c 1 happens to receive such a weight, then thelock may get released or the locking portion 26 c 1 may be damaged. Inthat regard, in the present invention, some of the weight is received bya first engaging portion 26 e and a second engaging portion 34 b thatrespectively engage with the supporting portions 33 and 54 formed in theprocess unit 1. Hence, the abovementioned type of trouble does notoccur.

In this locked state, as illustrated in FIG. 36(b), while being engagedwith the supporting portions 33 and 54, the engaging surfaces 34 c and58 c make contact at two locations with the supporting portions 33 and54, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 21, when the operator grips thegripper 25 and holds the process cartridge in a dangling manner, onecontact location M2 out of the two contact locations is placed at thelower part of the supporting portions 33 and 54. At the contact locationM2 present at the lower part, the engaging surfaces 34 c and 58 c canreceive a weight W. That enables achieving reduction in the load on thelocking portion 26 c 1, thereby preventing the locking portion 26 c 1from getting damaged.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the contact location M2 thatreceives the weight W is located vertically beneath a center of pivotingO of the operating member 26. For that reason, not only the vectorextension line of the weight W that acts on the contact location M2passes through or close to the center of pivoting O of the operatingmember 26 but also the extension line of a lifting force F acting on thecontact location M2 while the operator is lifting the process cartridgepasses through or close to the center of pivoting O of the operatingmember 26. Because of the fact that the vector extension line of theweight W, which acts on the contact location M2, and the vectorextension line of the lifting force F pass through or close to thecenter of pivoting O of the operating member 26; the weight W and thelifting force F act in different directions than a direction of pivotingH of the operating member 26 for releasing the locked state of thelocking portion 26 c 1. As a result, when the operator lifts the processcartridge, it becomes possible to prevent a situation in which the lockis released due to the force acting on the operating member 26 at thattime and thus the toner cartridge 7 and the process unit 1 are separatedfrom each other.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, positioning of the toner cartridge7 with respect to the process unit 1 is done using positioning portionsat four locations. More particularly, at the time of attaching the tonercartridge 7, firstly, a pair of positioning projections 29 and 31 (seeFIGS. 4 and 10), which are disposed on the far side on both sides of thetoner cartridge 7, stops against a pair of guiding portions 30 and 32,respectively, (see FIG. 4). That results in positioning of the tonercartridge 7. Then, in the state in which the operating member 26 isengaged with the pivoting portion 52 of the linking member 51 and inwhich the engaging member 34 on the opposite side is engaged with thesupporting portion 33 (see FIG. 4) of the process unit 1, the operatingmember 26 is pivoted in the direction of locking. As a result, theoperating member 26 and the second engaging portion 34 rotate, therebyresulting in positioning with respect to the pivoting portion 52 and thesupporting portion 33. In this way, in the present embodiment, theconfiguration is such that the toner cartridge 7 is reliably positionedwith respect to the process unit 1 at four positioning locations (twopositioning locations on either side). That enables achievingenhancement in the operability at the time of performingattaching/removing operations with respect to the process unit 1 and thetoner cartridge 7 in an integrated fashion.

When the toner cartridge 7 is set in the process unit 1, a situation mayarise in which the toner cartridge 7 is not pressed up to the specifiedposition sufficiently due to torsion or tilt, and thus the attachment ispoor. In this case, as illustrated in FIGS. 35(a) and 35(b), theprotrusions 66 and 67 do not reach the outer periphery of the firstengaging portion 58 and the outer periphery of the second engagingportion 34, respectively. Instead, each of the protrusions 66 and 67dwell, for example, in between the outer wall and the inner wall on theinner diameter side than the outer periphery. In such a state of poorattachment, the engaging portions 34 and 58 do not engage properly withthe supporting portions 33 and 54, respectively. More particularly, asillustrated in FIG. 37(a), a center O′ of each of the supportingportions 33 and 54 misaligns the center O of each of the engagingportions 34 and 58 (i.e., the center of the shaft 35). In this state, ifthe operating member 26 is rotated in the forward direction; then, asillustrated in FIG. 36(b), the non-arc-like engaging surface 34 c 1 ofeach of the engaging members 35 and 58 make contact and interfere withthe supporting portions 33 and 54, respectively. As a result, thenon-arc-like engaging surface 34 c 1 functions as a rotation restrictingmember and restricts further rotation of the operating member 26 in theforward direction. For that reason, even if the operating member 26 isoperated, the replenishment toner outlet shutter 43 does not open.Hence, it becomes possible to prevent toner leakage from occurring inthe case when the operating member 26 is operated by mistake.

Consider a case in which the misalignment of the centers O and O′ isonly moderate. In that case, even if the rotation of the operatingmember 26 in the forward direction leads to the knocking of the engagingsurfaces 34 c and 54 c against the supporting portions 33 and 54,respectively; the guiding effect of the clearance retaining portion 64 aformed in each of the supporting portions 33 and 54 results in voluntaryorientation correction of the engaging portions 34 and 58 in thedirection of resolving the misalignment in the center core. In thiscase, as the operating member 26 is rotated in the forward directionwithout any interruption, it becomes possible to achieve the lockedstate. Hence, there is no need to repeat the operation of inserting thetoner cartridge 7. With that, it becomes possible to smoothly performthe task of replacing a toner cartridge.

Second Embodiment

Given below with reference to FIG. 38 to FIGS. 41(a) and 41(b) is theexplanation of a second embodiment of the first engaging portion 58 andthe second engaging portion 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 38, in the first engaging portion 58 according tothe second embodiment, a tapered surface 58 g that is tilted withrespect to the radial direction is formed in between the outer wall 581and the inner wall 582. Consider the point when the operating member 26is rotated in the forward direction to switch from thepreliminarily-held state to the locked state. The tapered surface 58 ghas an upward tilt toward the downstream side of the relative movementdirection of the protrusion 66 with respect to the first engagingportion 58 (See FIG. 40). As compared to the tapered surface 58 g, theouter wall 581 is present on the upstream side in the relative movementdirection of the protrusion 66; and has the low step portions 58 dformed thereon. As a result, the protrusion 66 that is guided by thetapered surface 58 g radially outward can smoothly move onto the outerperiphery of the first engaging portion 58 via the low step portions 58d.

With such a configuration, even if the attachment of the toner cartridge7 to the process unit 1 is poor and if the protrusion 66 dwells inbetween the outer wall 581 and the inner wall 582 as illustrated in FIG.35(a); when the operating member 26 is rotated in the forward direction,the protrusion 66 follows the path illustrated by a broken line arrow inFIG. 40(a), performs a relative movement between the outer wall 581 andthe inner wall 582, and is guided by the tapered surface 58 g to reachthe outer periphery of the first engaging portion 58. For that reason,it becomes possible to achieve the normal locked state as illustrated inFIG. 34(a). In this case too, by having the clearance retaining portion64 a in the supporting portion 54, it is possible to avoid interferencebetween the first engaging surface 34 c and the supporting portion 54and in turn avoid restriction in the forward direction rotation of theoperating member 26 caused by such interference. In this way, withoutrepeating the operation of inserting the toner cartridge 7 replacing atoner cartridge can be performed smoothly.

In FIG. 39 is illustrated the second engaging portion 34 according tothe second embodiment. In the second engaging portion 34 according tothe second embodiment too, a tapered surface 34 g that is tilted withrespect to the radial direction is formed in between the outer wall 341and the inner wall 342. The tapered surface 34 g is formed in such a waythat, when the operating member 26 is rotated in the forward directionto switch from the preliminarily-held state to the locked state, thetapered surface 34 g has an upward tilt toward the downstream side ofthe relative movement direction of the protrusion 67 with respect to thesecond engaging portion 34. As compared to the tapered surface 34 g, theouter wall 341 is present on the upstream side in the relative movementdirection of the protrusion 67; and has the low step portions 34 dformed thereon. As a result, the protrusion 67 that is guided by thetapered surface 34 g radially outward can smoothly move onto the outerperiphery of the second engaging portion 34 via the low step portions 34d. With such a configuration, even if the attachment of the tonercartridge 7 to the process unit 1 is poor; in an identical to the caseof the first engaging portion 58, when the operating member 26 isrotated in the forward direction, the protrusion 67 follows the pathillustrated by a broken line arrow in FIG. 40(b). Hence, it becomespossible to achieve the normal locked state illustrated in FIG. 34(b).

The explanation given above is for a case in which there is poorattachment of the toner cartridge 7. However, in the second embodiment,if there is no poor attachment of the toner cartridge 7 and if theattached toner cartridge 7 is preliminarily-held in a proper manner asillustrated in FIGS. 41(a) and 41(b); then it is possible to achieve afunction effect identical to the function effect described in the firstembodiment.

Meanwhile, in all the embodiments of the present invention, it isassumed that a toner is used as an one-component developer, and what iscalled a one-component developing device is used as the developingdevice. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed above. Alternatively, for example, it is also possible to usea two-component developing device in which a mixture of a toner and acarrier is used. Moreover, the method of replenishing the toner to thedeveloping device is also not limited to the embodiments describedabove. That is, it is obvious that, within the scope of the presentinvention, various modifications can be done. Furthermore, the imageforming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied is notlimited to the monochromatic image forming apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the present invention can also be applied to thefollowing types of image forming apparatuses: an indirect-transfer-typecolor image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 42 in which imagesformed on a plurality of photosensitive members 2 are indirectlytransferred onto a paper sheet via an intermediate transfer belt (anintermediate transfer member) 60; and a direct-transfer-type color imageforming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 43 in which images formed on aplurality of photosensitive members 2 are directly transferred onto apaper sheet that is conveyed by a conveying belt (a conveying member)61. Besides, examples of the image forming apparatuses to which thepresent invention can be applied also include a printer, a copyingmachine, a facsimileing machine, or a multifunction product having thosefunctions.

The present invention also includes the following aspects:

Aspect 1

A toner container that is detachably attachable to a developing device,the developing device comprising:

an inlet to be poured a toner;

an inlet shutter to move between a closing position, at which the inletis closed, and an opening position, at which the inlet is open;

a biasing member to bias the inlet shutter toward the closing position;

an engaged portion provided in the inlet shutter;

an engaging portion to engage with the engaged portion and to retain theinlet shutter at the opening position against a biasing force of thebiasing member; and

an engagement releasing portion provided in the inlet shutter and torelease an engaging state between the engaged portion and the engagingportion; and

the toner container comprising:

a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing portionand to make the engagement releasing portion release the engaging state.

Aspect 2

The toner container according to aspect 1, further comprising a pressingsurface to contact a pressed portion provided in the inlet shutter, andto move the shutter to the opening position against a biasing force ofthe biasing member.

Aspect 3

The toner container according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein

the developing device including an extending portion that extends fromthe shutter body of the inlet shutter, the extending portion includingthe engaged portion provided at an end thereof and the engagementreleasing portion provided in an in-between portion thereof; and

the toner container including the contacting surface to contact with theengagement releasing portion so that the extending portion iselastically deformed and an engaging state between the engaged portionand the engaging portion is released.

Aspect 4

The toner container according to aspect 2 or 3, wherein

a mounting direction with respect to the developing device is differentthan a direction of movement of the inlet shutter toward the openingposition,

the pressed portion in the developing device is a tilted surface that istilted facing a direction opposite to the mounting direction as well asa direction opposite to a direction of movement toward the openingposition, and

due to contacting with the tilted surface, the pressing surfacegenerates a force to move the inlet shutter to the opening positionagainst the biasing force of the biasing member.

Aspect 5

The toner container according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein,when the inlet shutter moves to the opening position, the contactingsurface and the engagement releasing portion do not contact.

Aspect 6

A developing device to which the toner container according to any one ofaspects 1 to 5 can be detachably attached, the developing devicecomprising:

the inlet;

the inlet shutter;

the biasing member;

the engaged portion;

the engaging portion; and

the engagement releasing portion.

Aspect 7

The developing device according to aspect 6, wherein the engagingportion is provided on a casing of the developing device.

Aspect 8

A process cartridge comprising:

a process unit including at least an image carrier and the developingdevice according to aspect 6 or 7, which develop an image on the imagecarrier with toner, and being detachably attachable to an image formingapparatus; and

the toner container according to any one of aspects 1 to 5 that isattached to the developing device of the process unit.

Aspect 9

An image forming apparatus comprising the toner container according toany one of aspects 1 to 5.

Aspect 10

A toner container comprising:

a container body to contain a toner and that is attachable to anddetachable from a developing device;

an outlet to discharge the toner contained in the container body;

an outlet shutter to open and close the outlet; and

an operating member to move the shutter according a direction ofrotation thereof, the operating member being attached in a rotatablemanner to the container body and that, wherein

the operating member includes an engaging portion that is rotatable inconjunction with rotation of the operating member and that is rotatablysupported by engagement with a supporting portion provided in thedeveloping device.

Aspect 11

The toner container according to aspect 10, wherein the engaging portionincludes a rotation restricting portion that, in a state in which theengaging portion and the supporting portion are engaged in a poormanner, interferes with the supporting portion and restricts rotation ofthe engaging portion.

Aspect 12

The toner container according to aspect 11, wherein the engaging portionincludes a curved engaging surface, which engages with the supportingportion, and a flat engaging surface, which extends in at least one sidein a circumferential direction of the curved engaging surface and whichconstitutes the rotation restricting portion.

Aspect 13

The toner container according to aspect 10, wherein the engaging portionincludes an elastically deforming portion that, while the container bodyis being attached to the developing device, contacts with a protrusionprovided in the developing device and undergoes elastic deformation, andthen elastically returns after crossing the protrusion.

Aspect 14

The toner container according to aspect 13, wherein the protrusion thathas crossed the elastically deforming portion restrains the engagingportion.

Aspect 15

The toner container according to aspect 13, wherein the engaging portionincludes a guiding surface that, along with rotation of the engagingportion, guides the protrusion radially outward.

Aspect 16

A process cartridge comprising:

a process unit including a developing device that includes thesupporting portion and that is detachably attachable to animage-forming-apparatus main body; and

the toner container according to any one of aspects 10 to 15 that isdetachably attachable to the process unit.

Aspect 17

The process cartridge according to aspect 16, wherein an outer peripheryof the supporting portion includes a pair of cylindrical surfacesopposite to each other in a radial direction and includes a connectingsurface that connects the opposite cylindrical surfaces in an inside ofan imaginary circle having same radius as the cylindrical surfaces.

Aspect 18

The process cartridge according to aspect 17, further comprising animage carrier, on a surface of which a latent image is formed, wherein

a toner is supplied from the developing device onto the image carrier.

Aspect 19

An image forming apparatus comprising:

the process cartridge according to aspect 18; and

an image-forming apparatus main body.

Aspect 20

The toner container according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, 10 to 15,wherein the toner container contains a toner.

Aspect 21

The toner container according to aspect 20, wherein the toner containedin the toner container is a mixture of a toner and a carrier.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

1. A toner container to contain a toner and that is detachablyattachable to a mounting portion in a developing device, the mountingportion including a link, the toner container comprising: an outlet todischarge the toner contained in the toner container; a shutter to openand close the outlet, and that includes a first engaging portion toengage with the link; a second engaging portion to engage with the link;an operating structure to move the second engaging portion; and a wastetoner inlet formed in the toner container to introduce waste toner intoan inside, wherein the second engaging portion is disposed at one end ofthe toner container and a third engaging portion is disposed at theother end of the toner container, the outlet is disposed at the one endof the toner container and the waste toner inlet is disposed at theother end of the toner container, in a state in which the tonercontainer is not mounted in the mounting portion, the first engagingportion and the second engaging portion are in a non-linked state witheach other, and in a state in which the toner container is mounted inthe mounting portion, the first engaging portion and the second engagingportion are linkable to each other via the link.
 2. The toner containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the operating structure is to pivot theshutter, and the shutter is to switch the outlet between an open stateand a closed state by pivoting.
 3. The toner container according toclaim 1, further comprising: a biasing structure to bias the shutter ina direction of closing the shutter.
 4. The toner container according toclaim 1, wherein the operating structure is disposed on a first side ina mounting direction of the toner container, the first side being at anupstream position relative to the mounting direction of the tonercontainer, and the shutter is disposed on a second side in the mountingdirection of the toner container, the second side being at a downstreamposition relative to the mounting direction of the toner container. 5.The toner container according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to themounting portion, the toner container is detachably attachable from aside of an image forming apparatus that is accessible to attachment anddetachment of the toner container in a horizontal direction.
 6. Thetoner container according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion isprovided in a process structure that is detachably attachable to animage-forming-apparatus main body.
 7. The toner container according toclaim 1, further comprising: a gripper disposed on a side in a mountingdirection of the toner container, the side being at an upstream positionrelative to the mounting direction of the toner container.
 8. The tonercontainer according to claim 7, wherein the mounting portion is providedin a process structure that is detachably attachable to an image-formingapparatus main body, and the toner container further comprises: alocking portion, along with rotation of the operating structure, toswitch between a locked state, in which the locking portion engages witha mounting-portion-side engaging portion provided in the mountingportion, and an unlocked state, in which the locked state is released;and an engaging portion, in a state in which the toner container isattached to the mounting portion of the process structure, to engagewith a convex portion of the link, and in a state in which the engagingportion engages with the convex portion and the operating structure ispivoted to switch the locking portion to the locked state, when theprocess cartridge that is integrated with the toner container is held bygripping the gripper, a contact location of the engaging portion and theconvex portion is positioned at a lower part of the convex portion. 9.The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner containercontains a toner.
 10. A process cartridge comprising: a processstructure comprising at least an image carrier and a developing device,which develops an image on the image carrier with toner, and beingdetachably attachable to an image forming apparatus; and the tonercontainer according to claim 1 that is detachably attached to theprocess structure.
 11. An image forming apparatus comprising adeveloping device and the toner container according to claim
 1. 12. Thetoner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner containerincludes a toner containing structure and a toner collector, the outletis in the toner containing structure, and the waste toner inlet is inthe toner collector.
 13. The toner container according to claim 1,wherein the toner containing structure is disposed above the tonercollector.